News shows and sites already citing Gabby Douglas's race.

[progress2k12nbynd]

The kid is 16 yo. Said she hadn't even thought about it (being the first African-American to win it), it's not important to her. Only thought about being an American from the United States and winning it all. Now her headlines are going to be more focused on the fact that her skin is a little darker than that her talent was light years ahead.

If we as people of color don't care about this stuff, why is the media obsessing over it? Make it about the EVENTS. About the determination. About the SPORT. The media is so obsessed with finding the controversy or "drama-filled" aspect of something instead of just giving us the FUCKING NEWS.

Rant off.

[DCKit]

1. Sheesh, I never even though of it in those terms.

She's one of us, what else should matter?

I guess that makes this a teaching moment - for those of us who take it for granted, as well as those who think it should be a big deal.

[Heather MC]

2. Gabby is amazing

they way she dismounted off the unparallel bars, I thought she was about to fly!

Bravo!!!!

[madaboutharry]

3. At first I didn't know what you were talking about.

"Gabby Douglas's race" ... for a second I thought "wait a minute, she's a gymnast not a runner.."

I think we are a long way away before the media stops identifying minorities with specific reference to their race.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Well, while her race isn't nearly as important as Jesse Owens' was...

I suspect much of the media hype is intended to be positive about the achievements of said race and not to start controversy. Such things are not always done wisely or elegantly.

Speaking of controversy, WTF is it with people complaining about her hair? Is that a big deal? A phony deal? A blown-up deal?

[progress2k12nbynd]

5. I respect and understand their point..

but has the media ever asked our community whether we view it as positive or negative that every little accomplishment gets a headline that someone is the "first black person to do this" or only the 2nd black female to get this position."

They may be trying to make it a positive, but, I can only speak for myself, I frankly think it's insulting. We don't need cheerleaders anymore than our fellow non-colored citizens do.

They're either ignorantly thinking that pointing out race every time is going to be a blessing to that person, OR they're doing it as a pat on the back to themselves.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. I suspect they never asked...

(after all, who asks...) and even if they did they got answers all over the board. What community isn't diverse in its opinions once you get past the basics? So, they do what they want until the ratings get hit.

You're right. At a some point it does become insulting when the old battles are won and everyone should be moving on. And it's not just your group-- I tend cringe a little when excessive mention is made of nationality, race, gender, religion, or any other such thing not directly related to the accomplishment. At this point in time such things are really not important if the goal is to be color and etc. blind and have every group fully integrated into society. Why bring up the irrelevant differences?

[NCTraveler]

7. I think it is important and Bob Costas alluded to why last night.

Basically saying breaking down the barriers is not enough. The fight for equality must continue. Walls coming down does not mean equality has been achieved.

[xmas74]

8. The comments I heard made last night

was that she is an inspiration and an role model to young African-American girls. They can look at her and think that if she did it, they can too. And it's hoped that this will increase the numbers of African-American girls competing on the high school, college and higher levels.

In this case I don't think it was meant to be insulting.

[progress2k12nbynd]

10. Hopefully this will inspire ALL colors of girls to chase their dreams. nt

[xmas74]

13. And I hope it does.

A friend posted on Facebook today that her daughters, ages 6 and 8, now want to take lessons. When asked why the younger daughter said that Gabby "looked like her". My friend said it made her cry to hear that her children say that.

She's trying to find the money now to enroll them.

[KamaAina]

9. Color does matter

in Gabby's case, GOLD!!!

[undeterred]

11. This morning when I heard her interviewed on NBC she did say it was exciting for her

to be the first African American girl to win the all-around. I don't see why its wrong to bring that up. There are not many AAs in some sports and having a role model like Gabby will make a lot more girls become interested. Girls of every race.

Unless you think being interested in gymnastics is a bad thing.

[ananda]

14. Gabby is the first American woman ever..

.. to win both golds for team and all around..
in the same Olympics.

She's awesome!

[kwassa]

12. People of color do care about it, a lot

Dominique Dawes, for instance, so emotional about it she was in tears.

http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/gymnastics/story/gabrielle-douglas-future-after-london-games-advice-dominique-dawes-080312

I'm white, my wife and daughter are black, my daughter happens to take gymnastics at the same gym that Dawes trained at. Gabby Douglas has cited Dawes as a role model.

We are not past talking about race in this country. As new accomplishments happen, they are noticed. My wife changed her profile picture on Facebook to one of Gabby smiling and holding her gold medal.

[xmas74]

15. A friend posted on facebook today that

her young daughters now want to take gymnastics because Gabby "looks like me". (the younger daughter, age six, said that.) She's just happy that they are seeing a positive role model that they can look up to but the fact that Gabby is AA resonates with her children, since their father is AA.

She said that they'll be getting the Wheaties box, if they still do that, along with the posters, and hopefully she'll have the money to put them in lessons soon.

[ananda]

16. I didn't really care about Gabby's race.

I just wanted somebody to beat those pissant
primadonna Russians!

OK, I'll admit the Russians have fantastic balletic
artistry that no American can match; but Gabby
came close and didn't make the mistakes or lose
her nerve.

That made me very happy and I cried tears of joy.

[Zax2me]

17. Gabby Douglas Thanks God... Why Is This news?

snip -
Normally I don’t get heated about the Olympics, but a Salon post by Mary Elizabeth Williams titled “Did God help Gabrielle Douglas Win?” did it. Williams claims that Gabby’s faith is a little unnerving because she talks about it all of the time. I really would like to ask Williams: Is this really about proselytizing about God or is this about the author’s discomfort with different styles of expressing faith?
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/antheabutler/6258/gabby_douglas_thanks_god..._why_is_this_news